We were in the armoury. It was so cold. Something on the station must have gone wrong because the temperature was plummeting. Sean reassured me that it was still above zero and safe for human habitation but I didn’t believe him.
So far I had collected two pistols and a large weapon that I was told was a lancer. Sean’s elaborate explanation of its working could be condensed into the following: it stops everything very effectively, it has a high rate of fire, and if I wasn’t careful I could blow a hole in Ascension with it. This wasn’t much comfort. This station was apparently filled with angels and demons - real or imagined, and so far I had no reason to believe that there was any weapon that could safely neutralise them.
Sean continued to busy himself with his humming and floated around the room as if in a dance production. I hated him right now, so cheerful when all I felt was anger, burning anger. I was here because some feckless idiots had destroyed my world, even before I was born. I was here because some insane group of people appeared to have created hell and, just to make things interesting, had engineered this hell in deep space so the only exit led straight into a vacuum. I was here because of bloody Sephra and Aeniah. But worst of all I was here because there was nothing that I could do. The world had ended, soon the last colonies would fall, and then where would I have to go? It wasn’t fair, and I though to myself, nothing was probably going to be fair again.
‘George,’ Sean asked suddenly. ‘Have you decided upon a more comprehensive plan yet?’ He was concerned that what I had come up with so far had been a little spartan on details.
‘No, not really,’ I replied tiredly. ‘First we need to find Aeniah. The more people we have the greater the chance of success. Anyway I don’t suppose that you have any suggestions?’ I enquired ruefully.
‘Actually I do.’ He seemed please with himself. ‘It seems Blue Dawn is not so efficient at regulating information as I assumed that she would be. System log files strongly suggest that Aeniah has been placed in biological quarantine. The facility is marked as a short term holding unit. It comprises two sub-sections of the station and is not far from our present location. I’m beginning to think Blue Dawn doesn’t have all her systems online yet.’ He sounded frankly amused at that as if he was saying I would have had them ready by now.
‘The route to the facility is also very simple.’ He continued. ‘We simply need to cross the next two rooms to find the transport system and descend thirteen floors where we will enter the facility.’ He finished with a little nod, as though he had just suggested a gentle stroll through a district park. He ventured nothing further. So that, it appeared, was that.
I picked up the heavy lancer and heaved it up against the skin beneath my shoulder. I fumbled with the catch to the side of it until the weapon hummed into life. Surprisingly as it warmed up it also grew lighter. In fact it was now so light that it felt as though I was holding nothing at all. A two dimensional holo appeared in front of my eye-line displaying an enhanced vision of my surroundings. It felt wonderful to have a little bit of extra information.
Feeling a new sense of empowerment I strode confidently to the sealed and bulky exit of the armoury. I thumbed the door control and heard the dripping and silky voice of the system stating ‘Doors opening. Welcome to Hylas Centre for Information and Control. A quarantine is in effect, please proceed with caution.’
I stepped through.